Chapter 227: Straw Hat Crew Devil Fruit User + 1After leaving the icy sea, the thousand sunny sailed for a while through the deepening twilight, and night finally fell completely.Stars gradually appeared in the deep sky, the crescent moon cast its soft glow, and the sea surface shimmered with fine silver light, as calm as ink-colored satin.On the deck, Nami stood alone against the railing. First, she lifted her wrist to carefully check the reading on the log pose, then closed her eyes, taking a deep breath of the cool sea breeze, feeling the humidity and flow of the air."The temperature hasn't risen significantly, and the airflow is quite stable..."A relieved smile appeared on the corners of her mouth, "It looks like it will be a calm and peaceful night."She stretched her slightly stiff back, hands behind her head, and familiar Berries symbols flickered in her eyes unconsciously."Before dinner... why not count up the harvest from this time first!" The thought made her instantly excited.But the next second, she lightly tapped her lips with her fingertips, showing a conflicted expression."Though, taking a nice warm hot spring bath also sounds very tempting..." She scratched her long orange hair, "Ah—this is so hard to choose!""Perhaps you could count money while taking a bath?"Robin approached with a gentle smile, a hint of teasing in her voice."Ah! Robin!"Nami's eyes lit up, and she excitedly grabbed Robin's hand, "You're truly a genius! Let's go, let's go, let's go right now! Let's bathe together!""Eh?" Robin was slightly stunned, "I was just joking...""How can such a good idea just be a joke!"Nami was already dragging her toward the bathroom without hesitation, "It's the perfect time to chat about this adventure; I have so many things I want to ask you!""Nami... you're actually serious..." Robin's helpless yet smiling voice gradually faded along with their retreating figures.Inside the infirmary, the faint scent of herbs drifted under the warm yellow light.Chopper was standing on tiptoe, trying hard to press Luffy's head back onto the bed as he tried to lift it."Don't—move—!"Chopper tried to make his voice sound authoritative, using a cotton ball to carefully apply ointment to the bruises and burn marks on Luffy's arms and abdomen, "The wounds haven't fully closed yet; if you move around, they'll tear open!""Aren't you done yet, Chopper~~"Luffy tried to lift his head for the umpteenth time, his nose twitching like a hound's, "I can already smell an incredible aroma! It's definitely delicious meat! It must be Sanji and Mark making a su~~per feast!"As he spoke, crystal-clear drool began to drip uncontrollably from the corner of his mouth."Lie down—!"Chopper instantly switched to his Heavy Point form, using his hooves to firmly press Luffy back onto the treatment bed, deftly wrapping the final layer of bandages, "Listen well, Luffy. For the next few days, spicy and irritating foods are strictly forbidden, keep the wounds away from water, and also...""Got it, got it~~"Luffy's mind had already flown to the kitchen, "As long as I don't think it's spicy, then it doesn't count as spicy food!"Before he finished, he had already sprung from the bed like a rubber slingshot, pulled open the door, and vanished into a blur, leaving only his trailing voice echoing in the corridor: "Sanji—! Is dinner ready—! I'm starving to death—!!!""What do you mean 'it doesn't count if you think it isn't'! Did you even listen to the doctor at all!"Chopper was so angry he stamped his feet, grabbed his medical bag, and chased after him, "Stop right there! Luffy—!"The kitchen was brightly lit, filled with a complex aroma that made one's mouth water.Sanji, wearing an apron, was slicing cucumbers and green onions into uniform, hair-thin strips at an astonishing speed, the sound of the knife hitting the cutting board creating a pleasant, continuous "tap-tap-tap" sound."Wait patiently! If you dare stick your hand into the kitchen," he said without turning his head, his voice carrying a clear threat, "I'll use your rubber arm as bait for tomorrow's fishing."A hand that had quietly stretched out from the doorway, attempting to touch the kitchen counter, froze in mid-air before dejectedly retracting."Fine..."Luffy slumped at the door like a deflated ball, but this state only lasted a second.His eyes rolled, and he instantly regained his energy, bounding over to where Usopp, Merry, and Ink Meteor were chatting on the deck swing."Hey! Usopp! I thought of a new game! It's su~~per fun! It's like..."Several people huddled together, with Luffygesticulating wildly as he described it, occasionally interrupted by Usopp's exclamation of "That's too reckless!" and Merry's curious questions."Honestly..."Sanji glanced at Mark, who was a bit distracted nearby, "Mark, what are you spacing out for? You've torn the dough wrapper.""Ah... sorry, sorry!" Mark snapped back to reality, balled up the torn dough, and rolled it out again. After rolling it twice, he stopped again, lost in thought."What's wrong?"Sanji pulled a piece of wood with lingering embers from the oven and dipped it into the bucket next to him, making a soft "hissing" sound.Inside the oven, several plump Domon Penguinswere roasted to a golden brown, their skin crispy, with fat sizzling as it dripped off, the aroma rich and inseparable.Sanji nodded with satisfaction."It's not about the new dish," Mark pulled up a chair and sat down, crossing his legs, his tone casual yet carrying a hint of seriousness, "It's about Don Accino.""Hm? What about that steam balloon?"Sanji poured a cup of hot coffee for himself and Mark, sat down next to him, and pushed the cup over, "That guy? Wasn't he blasted away by Luffy?""Not blasted away," Mark took the coffee and blew on the steam, "He was pierced through. Luffy's fist went straight through his heart.""What?" Sanji's hand shook, and the coffee nearly spilled, "Hot, hot, hot!" He hurriedly put down the cup, wiped his hands with a rag, and his expression turned grave, "Then what? He..."Mark nodded, confirming the unspoken guess."What I want to say is..."He reached his hand into the slightly undulating rainbow mist beside him, groped for a moment, and pulled out a round sphere about the size of an egg, deep red all over, with what looked like magma slowly swirling inside, and handed it to Sanji."This is...?" Sanji's pupils constricted."The energy essence of the Heat-Heat Fruit."A smile curled at the corner of Mark's mouth, "This was extracted by consuming all the energy values from Enies Lobby, just like with Nami. Besides, its attributes... are highly compatible with your combat style, especially 'Diable Jambe'.""You mean... let me become a Devil Fruit user?"Sanji took a deep breath, his gaze shifting between the red sphere and Mark's face, "This... is too sudden, I need to consider it.""What is there to consider?"Mark shoved the energy sphere into his hand without hesitation, "That 'Clear-Clear Fruit' you've been pining for, heaven knows when or if it will ever appear, or who it will fall into the hands of.""Eh?"Sanji subconsciously caught the warm sphere, looking at Mark in shock, "You, how did you know I wanted the Clear-Clear Fruit..." His face turned red, a rare occurrence."Don't overreact," Mark waved his hand with an 'I've seen right through you' expression, "Old Man Zeffhas chatted with me about quite a few past events in the East Blue... of course, that includes one of someone's unspeakable dreams."He showed a hint of disdain, "Desiring a legendary fruit just to peek into the women's bathhouse... you guy, you're hopeless.""That old geezer! Why does he tell everyone everything!" Sanji gritted his teeth in anger."Think about it carefully," Mark leaned in, his voice lowered, carrying a hint of temptation, "The Heat-Heat Fruit, controlling heat. Imagine it—'The Fiery Knight of Love' descending from the sky, surrounded by protective flames, isolating danger and cold, saving ladies in distress... This image, isn't it more upright, romantic, and handsome than a sneaky invisible man? The heartbeat from peeping can't compare to the heartfelt admiration and gratitude from the ladies, can it?"Sanji was stunned, his mind involuntarily starting to construct the image: himself enveloped in a warm, non-scorching red glow, flames gently spraying beneath his feet, elegantly hovering in mid-air.Below, Miss Nami's eyes sparkled with stars, clutching her chest in emotion: "Sanji-kun! So cool! So reliable!" Miss Robin covered her mouth and chuckled, casting an admiring gaze..."Da-be, da-be~~" Sanji fell into a fantasy, twisting his body with a look of intoxication."Miss Nami~~ Robin~~ your love is the driving force that keeps me burning~~!"Mark looked at the swirl-browed chef who had instantly entered into a delusion mode, and helplessly held his forehead."So, what is your decision...""A fiery guardian of love! The incarnation of a passionate knight of justice! I'm definitely doing it——!!"Sanji's whole body seemed to be ablaze with invisible flames, his aura fierce, even though he hadn't eaten the fruit yet."Hey, hey, why don't you reconsider? I'm suddenly having some regrets..."Mark was genuinely worried that this hot-blooded chef would accidentally set the kitchen of the thousand sunny on fire.But it was too late. With an expression of both martyrdom and anticipation, Sanji tilted his head back and swallowed the crimson energy essence.The list of Devil Fruit users in the Straw Hat Pirateshad quietly grown by one.The scenes of chaotic energy and uncontrollable flames that had been anticipated did not occur.Sanji stood still with his eyes closed, his expression calm.As a top-tier chef, he had an almost instinctive, precise control over heat and temperature; his long-term training of "Diable Jambe" had made him accustomed to dancing with flames.This accumulation allowed him to achieve an astonishingly harmonious resonance with the energy of the "Heat-Heat Fruit"."How does it feel?" Mark asked with concern.Sanji slowly opened his eyes, and in those orbs that always radiated gentleness toward ladies, a faint, almost imperceptible flash of red light seemed to pass.He calmly pulled a cigarette from his pocket, placed it in his mouth, and then, with a flourish, snapped his fingers in the air."Pop."A small but steady orange-red bubble blossomed at his fingertips, precisely lighting the cigarette.Sanji took a deep puff, exhaling perfectly round smoke rings that spiraled elegantly under the lights.Feeling the new, warm power within him that obeyed his every command, he curled his lips into a familiar, slightly roguish smile."It feels... quite good.""Sanji——! Is dinner ready yet——!!" This time, it was Nami's clear, slightly impatient voice after her bath."Miss Nami——!! Your Knight of Love is here to serve you a feast——!!"Sanji instantly entered an excited service mode, with pink flowers seemingly floating around him, as he began to arrange the table and prepare the dipping sauces at a speed difficult for the naked eye to track.A moment later, the spacious dining hall was brightly lit.The long dining table was already filled with an array of side dishes, though most were freshly washed vegetables, creating a vibrant sea of green."Where—— is the meat——!!"Luffy gripped his knife and fork, banging on the table like a drum, protesting loudly, "Meat! Where is my meat! Don't you dare underestimate meat!!""The vegetables look quite fresh, and they're fine to eat raw... but are we on a diet tonight?" Usopplooked at the table full of greens; he didn't have any objections, just some curiosity."As long as there's booze." Zoro was already leaning lazily against the back of his chair, sipping fruit wine brewed by Mark, pouring for himself."Clang, clang." Accompanied by the sound of rolling wheels, Sanji and Mark each pushed a food cart covered with a shiny metal dome into the dining hall."This is the smell——!!" Luffy's drool flowed like a waterfall, his eyes locked firmly on the food carts."Ahem!" Sanji cleared his throat and elegantly adjusted his non-existent bowtie."Everyone, tonight's main course is presented by yours truly, the head chef, and our special consultant Mark—— 'Grand Line Style · Special Pirate Roast Whole Goose'! We have selected the Domon Penguins from the North Blue, known for their firm, fatty meat and unique flavor, marinated in twelve kinds of spices and slow-roasted over fruitwood...""Too wordy! Let's eat already——!!" Luffy's patience reached its limit, his rubber neck stretching out as he shouted at Sanji."Idiot! Show some respect for the chef's efforts!" Sanji kicked Luffy's stretched-out head back to his seat, then, as if changing his face entirely, put on a gentle smile as he looked toward Nami and Robin."Now, I invite the main developer of this recipe——Mark, to demonstrate to everyone how to enjoy this brand-new dish.""Oh? Is there a show with dinner tonight?" Zoro put down his wine bottle, showing a hint of interest."Oh! Looks like I've got to act super elegant too!" Franky struck a pose he thought was very gentlemanly."So exciting! What kind of way is it to eat?" Usoppand Chopper's eyes were wide as saucers.Under the focused gazes of everyone, Mark smiled slightly and reached out to lift the metal dome from the food cart in front of him.Boom——! It was as if an invisible fragrance bomb had exploded; the rich, mellow aroma of roast goose, with its charred fruitwood notes and succulent fat, instantly swept through the entire dining hall, mixed with a hint of wheat aroma from the pancakes and the complex sweet and savory scent of sweet bean sauce."So... so fragrant!" Even Nami couldn't help but swallow quietly."Ahhh! It looks so delicious! I want to eat, I want to eat!!" Luffy was restless again, but Sanji, having been prepared, kept him firmly in his seat with his foot.Mark was unhurried, as if performing an elegant show.He put on thin gloves and sliced a piece from the breast of the jujube-red, glistening roasted penguin. The slice was as thin as a cicada's wing, with skin and meat attached, and was nearly transparent under the lights.Then he took a soft, white steamed lotus leaf pancake, spread it with the dark brown, glistening special sweet bean sauce, placed the goose meat, cucumber strips, and scallion strips on top, and finally rolled it up deftly, completing an exquisite little roll."First, roll it up like this," he demonstrated, "Take a bite, and you can simultaneously experience the crispy goose skin, the tender goose meat, the refreshing cucumber and scallion strips, as well as the chewy pancake and the complex flavor of the sauce... the layers are very rich."Everyone watched intently, their throats moving involuntarily, the sounds of gulping echoing one after another.The demonstration finished, and the feast officially began!Sanji was specifically responsible for serving the ladies. He held a kitchen knife, his eyes focused, his wrist trembling slightly at a speed difficult for the naked eye to track.With a few flashes of the blade, the whole roast goose seemed to remain intact, but when he gently nudged it with the tip of his knife, the even, uniform slices of goose meat spread out like flower petals, perfectly arranged on the plate."Wow! That's amazing!" Nami, Robin, and Merryexclaimed in wonder, not just at the miraculous knife skills, but also at this novel and tempting way of eating.Zoro watched from the side, his eyebrows slightly raised, seemingly provoked by a competitive spirit. "Hmph, this level..." he muttered, picking up a table knife and hacking away at the roast goose assigned to the men in a dazzling display of swordplay.A moment later, the goose meat on his side was also cut into uniform slices, and he tilted his chin triumphantly at Sanji.Sanji just smiled slightly, not bothering to argue, and instead brought out from the bottom layer of the food cart a complete, cleanly picked, art-like roast goose skeleton, placing it gently in the center of the ladies' table as a decoration.Zoro looked at the remains on his side that had been "roughly" dismantled, not as perfectly separated from the bones, his face flushed slightly. He stopped provoking, buried his head, and focused on rolling the pancakes using the method he had just learned, eating heartily."Really, like a wild boar unable to appreciate fine bran..." Mark glanced at Luffy, who was holding half a roast goose and gnawing on it, his face covered in grease, and shook his head helplessly."Mmm mm mmm! Gulp!" Luffy struggled to swallow the meat in his mouth, shouting indistinctly at Mark."No way! You're even gnawing on the bones? Aren't you afraid Ink Meteor will chase you down and bite you if he finds out?" Mark was simply speechless.Sure enough, not long after dinner, the sounds of Luffy begging for mercy and Ink Meteor's dissatisfied roars, along with the commotion of a chase, came from the deck."I'm so sorry——!! I didn't know that was your chew toy——!! Ah! Don't bite... it hurts——!!"Under the starry sky, the thousand sunny, filled with satiety, warmth, and laughter, continued toward the unknown route, sailing quietly into the deep night.
Chapter 228: First Entry into the Florian TriangleThe thousand sunny had been sailing smoothly on the route to Fish-Man Island for two days.At this moment, the sky was clear and washed, with sunlight pouring unreservedly onto the deck, warming the lawn.The sea breeze was gentle and refreshing."Next one, Luffy, go for it!"Usopp stood on one leg by the swing, his other leg comically kicked back, fist pointing straight at the blue sky.Luffy built up momentum on the swing, then swung out violently."Thud!"With a dull sound, he splayed out and plastered himself against the ship wall beneath the main mast, like a flattened rubber sticker, slowly sliding down."Amazing! A new record is born!"Chopper and Usopp immediately danced around, celebrating this meaningless "achievement."This was the "new game" Luffy had racked his brain to come up with—using the swing's momentum to see who could hit the wall the loudest and with the most "spectacular" pose.Meanwhile, a delicate little window on the kitchen mast was pushed open."Miss Nami~ Miss Robin~ Sorry to keep you waiting!"Sanji gently placed two chilled milkshakes, garnished with fresh fruit and heart-shaped straws, onto the shelf of the mast's internal passage, then closed the window.This was the internal delivery system designed by Franky, connecting the kitchen to various lounges for convenient transport of refreshments."This time, let the three of us fly together!"Luffy bounced up from the ground and climbed back onto the swing, with Chopper and Usopp excitedly squeezing on too.The swing creaked under the weight of the three of them.They swung back with all their might, preparing to attempt a multi-person collision."You guys—give it a rest!"Mark, who was lying on a beach chair nearby, finally couldn't take it anymore and propped himself up.He pushed his sunglasses up to his forehead, revealing eyes full of disdain."Which genius came up with this brain-dead game? If you dent the ship, I'm going to make you pay!""Blehh!"The three of them turned their heads simultaneously, all sticking out their tongues and making faces at Mark, making provocative noises.Mark clenched his fists, then took a deep breath and let go."Forget it, I won't argue with idiots; it's contagious."He lay back down and picked up his iced cola, taking a big gulp.He tried to use the icy coolness to suppress the urge to throw these three idiots into the sea."Hey, you three bored guys."The kitchen door was pushed open, and Sanji poked his head out, biting on his cigarette."Since you have so much energy, go help me fish out that pile of octopuses I caught yesterday from the fish tank at the bow.""Octopuses?"Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper said in unison, their attention instantly diverted."Yeah."Sanji blew a smoke ring."I'm planning an octopus-themed banquet tonight. Octopus rice, thinly sliced octopus shabu-shabu, and a colorful octopus cold dish with my special sauce...""Whoa—! That sounds super delicious!"Luffy instantly bounced from the swing to the lawn, his eyes turning into the shape of meat chunks, drool pouring out like a waterfall."Sanji! Make some takoyaki too!""Grilled octopus! Add lots of chili and cumin!" Markalso immediately raised his hand to add to the order."Long live grilled octopus!"Usopp and Chopper also jumped up excitedly."Got it, got it, the menu is expanded, so—"Sanji smiled smugly and easily pulled the kitchen door shut."The important task of fishing out the octopuses is up to you, hurry up.""Alright!"The trio immediately rushed toward the bow deck, full of fighting spirit like soldiers receiving orders."Octopus! Octopus! Octopus...""Creak."The lounge door was gently pushed open, and Robin walked in elegantly, wearing her black high boots."The deck is really lively today."Nami was taking the milkshakes out of the mast delivery chute."Oh, Robin, you're just in time! There's one for you too!""Thank you."Robin took the cold, sweet drink and sat down on the sofa next to Nami."The weather on the Grand Line is always so dramatic."Nami was wearing a cool sleeveless shirt and shorts today, her long golden hair neatly tied into a high ponytail, revealing her graceful, slender neck."Tell me about it; yesterday we had to bundle up in coats to look at an ice field, and today it's like we're back on a summer island."She took a sip of the milkshake and squinted her eyes with satisfaction."So delicious!""This just goes to show how superb our navigator's skills are." Robin smiled and took a sip of her drink."Oh, Robin, you're such a tease..."Nami laughed, a bit embarrassed.Soon, the lounge was filled with the girls' relaxed and cheerful conversation.On the bow deck, the cover of the fish tank was opened.Under Usopp's "valid reason" that "you two are Devil Fruit users, if you fall in, you're done for," he successfully became the brave warrior chosen to jump into the tank to catch the octopuses."Little octopuses, you're no match for the great Usopp!"He put on his diving goggles, strapped on a small bamboo basket, held two fishing nets which he called "Two-Sword Style," and jumped into the water with a pose he thought was very cool."Splash!"The sound of him hitting the water startled Namiand Robin in the lounge.The two of them curiously walked over to the glass viewing wall connected to the fish tank."Where did you hide, little octopuses?"Usopp turned flexibly in the water, searching everywhere.Soon, he spotted his target—in a corner of the tank, a dense, clinging cluster of red figures; it was the many-tentacled octopuses gathered together."Oh! Found you! You're actually huddling together for warmth?"Usopp raised an eyebrow and triumphantly blew a string of bubbles."But, prepare yourselves! You takoyaki-to-be!"He brandished his two nets like a samurai in the water."Before the great Usopp's magnificent Two-Sword Style, you have nowhere to run!"Before long, one slippery octopus after another was tossed out of the tank onto the deck."Oh, oh! The first one!"Chopper counted excitedly by the tank."Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!"One octopus after another was thrown up.One landed squarely on Chopper's face, its eight tentacles clinging tightly.Chopper was so scared he scrambled to pull it off, nearly suffocating before he managed to rip it away.Just as Usopp was feeling smug, immersed in his shining moment of "dual nets flying, catching all the octopuses," he didn't notice that those seemingly panicked little octopuses were quietly swarming in from all directions.Tentacles nimbly wrapped around his ankles, wrists, and waist..."Mmph-mmph-mmph!!"By the time Usopp realized what was happening, he had already been wrapped into a human-shaped octopus bundle by countless slippery, powerful tentacles and couldn't move.Even his mouth was covered by a tentacle."Usopp!"Nami cried out from behind the insulated glass, but was helpless.Robin's eyes narrowed, and she raised her hand, preparing to activate her ability.However, the school of octopuses in the tank seemed to have precognition.Several of the larger ones simultaneously sprayed a large amount of thick, pitch-black ink!In an instant, the entire fish tank became murky, as if a whole bottle of ink had been poured into it, and vision was completely obscured.Robin's raised hand paused, then she lowered it helplessly."I can't see the target... I can't activate my ability precisely.""What's wrong? Why did the water go all black?"Chopper looked at the tank that had instantly turned as dark as night, cold sweat streaming down."Usopp! Are you okay? Answer me!" Luffy also lunged to the edge of the tank, shouting anxiously."This is bad, Usopp is in danger!" Nami's voice came through the glass."What?"Luffy immediately extended his rubber arm into the dark water, thrashing it around wildly."I can't see anything! The water is too murky!""Huh?"He suddenly felt his arm being tightly wrapped by something and pulled downward.Fortunately, Chopper was quick-witted; he grabbed Luffy's waist and pulled backward with all his might, preventing him from being dragged in too.Luffy shook the ink spots off his hair and face, and grinned."Damn it... If that's the case, then I'll use this! Gum-Gum... Gatling!""Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!"Countless fist shadows struck into the inky water like a rainstorm, indiscriminately covering every inch of the water area.Sure enough, a moment later, a figure covered in octopuses, looking like a weird ball of seaweed, was punched out and landed heavily on the deck."Plop!"Usopp lay sprawled out in an "X" shape, soaked through, covered in lumps, his body twitching slightly."He's still alive! Hehe!"Luffy retracted his fist, turned around, and revealed a bright smile."That's great!" Chopper's big eyes sparkled with relief."I almost... I almost got killed by you, you bastard!"Usopp, with lumps all over his head, jumped up suddenly.He bared his sharp teeth and pounced toward Luffylike a demon, roaring."Geez, it's just catching an octopus; did you have to make such a big scene?"Sanji walked over leisurely with his hands in his pockets, looking at the messy deck and Usopp's miserable state."You're the one who told me to catch them!!"Usopp's long, curved nose almost poked Sanji's forehead."This fish tank is... it's just too unsightly now."Mark also walked over slowly, looking at the still-murky water with disdain."Hey!! Shouldn't you at least be a little concerned about me!!"Usopp's anger turned toward Mark."Alright, alright, I get it."Mark patted his shoulder perfunctorily to comfort him.At the same time, he waved his hand, and a blue light swept past.The sticky black ink on Usopp was instantly stripped away and purified, restoring him to a dry state."Eat a few more octopuses later to calm your nerves."After saying this, Mark bent down and reached his hand into the fish tank, a faint light glowing in his palm.The thick ink in the tank, as well as the remaining octopuses stunned by Luffy's punch, and other debris were quickly sucked into the faint light in his palm.Within just a few seconds, the tank water returned to a crystal-clear state.The fish swam leisurely within it, as if the chaos just now had never happened.In the crow's nest, Zoro stood by the glass window, lazily glancing at the farce on the deck below.He muttered: "Boring."He returned to his original position, casting his gaze back toward the vast, boundless sea.Suddenly, his expression tightened, and he narrowed his eyes."Huh? That is..."He pressed the communication broadcast button in the crow's nest, and his low voice spread across the deck."Hey! Something seems to be floating on the sea!""What? What?"Luffy was the first to rush to the ship's rail, shading his eyes with his hand and looking into the distance."Where? Where?"Chopper and the just-"resurrected" Usopp also squeezed over."Is that it?" Sanji pointed toward the sea off the starboard stern.Chopper peered hard. "It looks... like a barrel?"Usopp quickly pulled down his goggles."There's... writing on it! It's a 'Treasure' character!""What? 'Treasure'!"Luffy was immediately interested."Could it be a treasure chest that fell from a treasure ship? It must be!""Quick! Luffy, hurry up and fish it up!"Usopp also became excited; the temptation of treasure temporarily overcame his physical pain."Hey, wait."Mark walked over, frowning slightly."This thing appeared a bit abruptly. On the Grand Line, unidentified drifting objects often mean trouble. Maybe we should forget it?""Let's fish it up and see first! What if it really is treasure!"Luffy didn't listen to advice at all; his rubber arm had already "whooshed" and extended, accurately grabbing the barrel floating on the distant sea surface and fishing it onto the deck.The barrel looked a bit old, but the seal seemed to be very good.On the barrel, besides the striking "Treasure" character on the flag, there were also blurred patterns.On the deck, Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper surrounded the barrel, excitedly doing a weird kicking dance.They were singing an improvised song."Treasure~ Treasure~ Gold, silver, and jewels, shining bright~""What a pity~"Nami, Robin, and Merry had arrived on deck at some point.Nami crossed her arms, wearing an expression that said she had already seen through it."Huh?" The three stopped dancing and looked at Nami, confused.Nami pointed to a less conspicuous mark and text on the barrel, other than the character "Treasure"."Didn't you see that it also says 'Offered to the Sea God' on the side?"She bent down and carefully examined the emblem and flag on the barrel body."This is called a 'Drift Barrel'. It's a ritual gift that sailors offer to the Guardian of the Sea to pray for a safe voyage. It drifts with the waves, symbolizing the passing of blessings. It's probably filled with liquor.""What the..." Usopp instantly deflated like a punctured ball."A wasted joy...""Just drink it." Zoro leaped lightly from the lookout tower, landed on the lawn, and looked at the barrel.The corner of his mouth curled into a smirk, showing his disdain for "gods". "Since we've already fished it up, it'd be a waste not to drink it.""Idiot! Stealing offerings meant for a god will bring down divine retribution!" Usopp retorted."Not necessarily." Nami waved her hand."If it's found while drifting, and you offer a sincere prayer of thanks, drinking the liquor inside is actually permitted. It's said that you can share in the Sea God's blessing.""I'm not going to pray to any god." Zoro snorted."However, it is said that liquor that has endured a long drift is exceptionally mellow!"Nami closed her eyes, as if she could already taste that wonderful flavor."Oh? Good liquor?"Franky walked out from the "Rainbow Gate" beneath the treehouse, his tool bag slung over his back."That's definitely worth a taste! Just in time, I'm super thirsty!"He set down his tool bag, grabbed the barrel, shook it left and right a few times, and listened intently."Open it, open it!""Whoa! God! I won't be polite about accepting your gift!"Luffy pressed his palms together and bowed casually toward the sky, completing the "prayer" ritual."Hmph, and I don't know who it was that beat up the 'god' on Sky Island." Zoro remarked coldly from the side."Alright! Prayer finished! We can open it now!"Luffy impatiently grabbed the rope binding the barrel lid, ready to untie it."Wait a second!"Mark's hand pressed down on Luffy's."Huh? What is it, Mark?" Luffy and the others looked at him, confused."If it's liquor offered to the Sea God, we should be able to smell a hint of it before opening it." Marklooked at Franky."Besides, when Franky was shaking it earlier, did you hear any liquid sloshing around?"Everyone paused, recalling carefully; indeed, there was no distinct sound of liquor."Now that you mention it... that is a bit strange." Nami touched her chin, becoming vigilant."How about... we just throw it back into the sea? Better safe than sorry.""No! I already prayed! It'll feel like a rip-off if we don't open it!" Luffy hugged the barrel tightly."Then what do we do?" Usopp looked at Mark.Mark pondered for a moment."Why don't we open it inside the Rainbow Space? Everything is under my control there, so even if there's an accident, we can handle it immediately.""Hmm, that's a safe plan." Sanji nodded in agreement.Thus, the group passed through the "Rainbow Gates" located throughout the thousand sunny and entered Mark's rainbow mist space.The current Rainbow Space, after continuous modifications by Franky and Mark, had begun to take shape.At the center was a lush island, blooming with exotic flowers and grasses.Standing on the island was a castle-like structure that combined fairytale style with practicality.The island was surrounded by crystal-clear, shimmering seawater.A wide, elegant wooden bridge connected the island to the "entrance" platform.The wooden bridge's railing was cleverly designed, with the hollow parts filled with colorful flowers, overflowing with fragrance."Wow—!"Except for Franky and Mark, the other crew members hadn't been in for a while, and they were stunned by the scene before them."Franky! You really are a super genius!" Luffy's eyes sparkled with excitement."This is just too beautiful! It's like a dream!" Namiexclaimed."These flower varieties... they're very rare."Robin bent down to gently sniff the flowers by the bridge, revealing an appreciative smile."This is far from enough!"Franky pushed up his sunglasses, spread his arms, and showcased his blueprint."In the future, this won't just be our backyard and vacation spot; we're also going to plan out dedicated training areas and testing grounds! Any new techniques or inventions can be tried here boldly without worrying about damaging the thousand sunny!""Oh? A dedicated training ground?" Zoro crossed his arms, the corners of his mouth turning up. "This is truly something to look forward to.""Great! I've been wanting to move my special gunpowder lab in here for a long time! On the ship, I'm always afraid I'll accidentally blow a hole in it!"Usopp closed his eyes, crossed his arms, and tapped his fingers rhythmically against them, looking like a master detached from the world."There's also the vegetable area, the specialty farming area, the temperature-controlled wine cellar... In short, Mark and I will keep improving this place!"Franky was in high spirits.Then he pointed to the barrel Luffy had been holding all this time."But for now, the most important thing is to open this 'God's Gift' and let us taste that 'legendary drifting liquor'!""Oh! That's right!"Reminded, Luffy remembered the main task and quickly placed the barrel on the open ground of the bridge, starting to untie the rope.Just as the knot was completely untied and the lid loosened slightly—"Bang—!!!"A burst of intense white light exploded from inside the barrel without warning, accompanied by an explosion that wasn't loud but was very crisp.Immediately after, a fire-red sphere shot out from the barrel, heading straight for the high point of the simulated "sky" in the Rainbow Space."BANG—!!!!"The red sphere exploded high in the air, turning into countless tiny, piercing red lights, scattering like malicious blood.It illuminated the stunned faces of everyone below in a deep red.The red light slowly dissipated, leaving the space in dead silence.Everyone was silent, their expressions terrifyingly grim."...If I'm not mistaken, this thing." Usopp pushed up his goggles, his voice dry."It's a flare, right?""Tch... a pathetic trap." Sanji bit down hard on his cigarette butt, his golden eyebrows knitted together."If we had opened it outside..."Chopper shrunk his neck in fear, and everyone understood the words he left unsaid.On the unsuspecting deck of the thousand sunny, this sudden strong light and explosion would have been enough to cause massive chaos, or even serve as the perfect catalyst for an attack."Let's go, let's get out first."Mark waved his hand, dispersing the faint smell of gunpowder remaining in the air."Whether this was a malicious trap aimed at us or just some ownerless object we unluckily bumped into... there have never been few people targeting us, so one or two more don't make a difference.""Yeah."The group nodded with grave expressions, exiting the Rainbow Space one by one and returning to the deck of the thousand sunny.The sense of crisis prompted the Cowardly Trio to act immediately."Chopper, you observe the sea on the left! I'll handle the right!"Usopp jumped onto the railing and raised his binoculars."Understood! Left side... everything is normal!"Chopper reported from his high vantage point."Right side also... no suspicious ships or approaching objects found for now!"Usopp scanned quickly and then ran to the stern to look out."Indeed, there are no pursuers or ambushes visible to the naked eye... but this air pressure, and the shape of the clouds in the distance..."As the navigator, Nami was the most sensitive to changes in the weather.She looked up at the sky, feeling the wind direction and humidity brushing against her skin, her eyes suddenly sharpening."Everyone! Take your positions—!"Nami turned and rushed toward the second-floor chart room at top speed."We must turn to the southeast immediately! Full speed ahead!"She shouted while running, her voice carrying an unquestionable sense of urgency."In five minutes at most, a super-large storm is going to hit!""Even though it's still clear skies now... but if Namisays so, then it definitely is!"Luffy trusted his crewmate's judgment without reservation and immediately rushed toward the bow."Nami! What's the specific heading?""Two o'clock! Full speed!"Just as everyone began to busily follow orders, adjusting sails and confirming the heading, the sky changed drastically!It was as if an invisible giant hand had pulled a curtain across the sky, and the previously bright sunshine was instantly swallowed by thick, rolling dark clouds.Daylight instantly turned into a gloom nearly like night, and the sea breeze became manic and cold.Raindrops as big as beans slammed down without warning.They pelted against the deck, the railing, and the canvas, splashing up water droplets the size of eggs, instantly merging into a violent curtain of rain."Damn it! How does it start pouring just like that, without even a transition!"Usopp struggled to tighten the sail ropes in the wind and rain, his face plastered with water."Boom—! Crack—!"Blinding white lightning tore through the dim sky, and a deafening thunderclap exploded almost simultaneously.The gale howled in from the side, blowing directly against them.The main sail and jib were blown into violent billows, pulling in reverse, completely unable to provide forward momentum, instead causing the ship to heel over."Hey! Nami! This wind isn't right!"Zoro's arm muscles bulged as he held onto a main sail rope for dear life, resisting the immense force of the gale.He shouted toward the second floor."Everyone—! Furl the sails immediately! Hurry—!"Nami's anxious voice pierced through the wind and rain."Understood!"Merry's figure flashed by like a wisp of smoke, and with a few leaps, she jumped onto the middle section of the main mast.The wind and rain blew her raincoat tight against her body, snapping loudly.Mark followed closely behind.The two worked in perfect coordination, braving the storm to furl and secure the main sail as quickly as possible."Main sail secured!""Jib is also no problem!"Sanji and Zoro confirmed from the front and back decks respectively."Franky—! Now's the time!"Nami's shout came through."Roger—! Leave it to me, super!"Inside the helm, Franky held the steering wheel firmly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.He quickly operated the control panel."Soldier Dock System—Channel 0, switch!"The number "1" dock label on the deck spun rapidly, changing to "0".At the same time, the sound of machinery operating "clack clack" came from both sides of the thousand sunny's hull.Two rows of huge paddle wheels extended from beneath the hull and sank into the sea."Cola energy replenished! Paddle wheel mode—activate! thousand sunny, charge—!"Following Franky's imposing roar, the paddle wheels on both sides of the hull began to spin at high speed.The powerful force churned the turbulent seawater.Propelling the thousand sunny, this "Ship of the Sun", like a steel beast awakening in the storm.It cut through the raging waves, surging forward with all its might toward the southeast direction indicated by Nami.Attempting to escape the pitch-black rain clouds rapidly expanding behind it, which seemed ready to swallow everything.The true Grand Line forever tests the courage, wisdom, and bonds of every voyager in the instant alternation between calm and storm.
Chapter 229: Brook AppearsPropelled by its paddle wheels, the thousand sunnywove through the gale like an agile dancer, finally bursting out of the storm zone without incident.The ship suddenly lightened, the violent pitching giving way to calm." F-finally, we made it through! "Nami, on the second deck, was nearly spent. She bent over, hands on her knees, breathing heavily." Ah, we made it through the storm, but..." Zoro's deep voice came from the deck.He stood at the bow with his arms crossed, his sharp gaze piercing through the gray mist ahead.On the horizon, even gloomier, more oppressive dark clouds hung low over the sea." What on earth is going on with this sea? "He turned his head slightly and said to Nami, who was walking onto the deck:" It's not even night yet, but because of this thick fog, it's creepily dark! "Nami hurried to his side and looked around.Visibility was extremely low. The seawater was an ominous dark gray, surging slowly, but there was almost no sound of waves; it was terrifyingly silent." Could it be... have we already arrived at that sea area? "Nami cupped her slightly chilled cheeks, her voice trembling uncontrollably,"... I-I haven't prepared myself mentally yet! "" Fish-Man Island? It feels completely different from what I imagined; it's so gloomy. "Usopp plucked up the courage to sit on the railing, leaning over to look at the blurred sea below." No, before going to Fish-Man Island..."Luffy appeared silently behind Usopp,his face mostly hidden in the shadow of his Straw Hat, revealing only a grinning, mischievous smile.He lowered his voice, creating a terrifying atmosphere," We still have to pass through a... h-haunted... z-zone! "" That's right! "Franky lowered his face in cooperation, his mechanical-looking features appearing even more serious in the dim light.He said to Usopp, who was stiff all over and slowly turning his neck, enunciating every word," Don't let your guard down, or you might be... snatched away by something unknown! "" This sea area, "Mark, fitting the mood, used his long, dangling black hair to cover the side of his face, revealing only one eye, his voice eerie," is that infamous place where, regardless of ships or lives, "" everything inexplicably disappears... the F-Florian T-Triangle! "Robin also lowered her head slightly, a playful curve on her lips as she decided to join the game of scaring the coward:" It is said that even the Marine's investigation reports cannot explain the mysteries within. "" G-ghosts... are there really ghosts? "Usopp's teeth began to chatter, and his face turned pale at a visible speed.His neck, like a rusty hinge, turned jerkily as he looked at each person who had spoken." Hee hee hee! "Watching Usopp look like his soul was about to leave his body, Luffy couldn't help but laugh." Heh heh, there are ghosts in this sea, Usopp! "" W-what kind of joke of the century is this! How could there be ghosts in this world! "Usopp jumped up suddenly, grabbed the collar of Mark, who was closest to him, and shook him frantically." Hey! Mark! Tell me you all conspired to trick me, right! Right?! "" Eek—! Merry! "Chopper was already scared out of his wits, clinging tightly to Merry beside him.He was trembling like a sieve, tears welling up in his eyes." Hey, Usopp, "Luffy leaned closer, patted Usopp's stiff shoulder, and said in an even more mysterious tone," I heard... there are even l-living... s-skeletons on this sea! "" L-living... s-skeletons? " Usopp felt his muscles completely petrify." You guys, enough is enough. "Sanji sighed, looking helplessly at this group of guys addicted to scaring their companion.But then he "swiped" a match to light it, the flickering flame bringing light to his face,casting flickering shadows in the dim light, making him look a bit eerie too.He said to Usopp, who was on the verge of a breakdown, in a calm but even more chilling tone:" Listen up, Usopp. It is said that at least hundreds of ships vanish into thin air here every year, "" and... there are g-ghost s-ships filled with unwilling spirits, wandering in this fog all year round, looking for new companions. "" Ah—!!!" Usopp finally broke down completely, clutching his head and rocking wildly on the deck, as if that could shake off the terrifying information he had heard.Suddenly, he stopped abruptly and slapped his own cheeks hard." That's right! My 'Usopp Special All-Around Exorcism and Ward-Off-Evil Set'! Plus garlic, crucifixes, salt, holy water, and prayer beads! "" Usopp! Lend me a set too! "Chopper shouted with a thick, tearful voice, clutching Merry's raincoat tightly." Chopper, about ghosts..."Merry gently pulled up the hood of her raincoat, letting the shadow cover most of her delicate face, revealing only a slightly pale chin." W-what? " Chopper backed away two steps, watching her vigilantly.Merry slowly raised her head. Under the shadow of the hood, her eyes seemed to flash with a faint, eerie light. She quietly raised her hands, forming claw shapes, and said in a drifting voice:"... What they love to eat most is fluffy, warm, and delicious-looking little animals~ "" In a sense, an existence like me can also be considered half a'spirit entity'."" Aaaaaah—!! Zoro, help me—!!!"Chopper, tears streaming down his face in terror, dashed behind Zoro at an astonishing speed, clinging tightly to his calf and burying his face, refusing to come out." Hahaha, I'm just kidding!"Merry lowered her hands and lifted her hood, revealing a bright, mischievous smile." Ghosts and such are just legends. We should believe..."Her words were cut short.An abrupt sound, completely out of place in this dead-silent sea, pierced through the thick fog and drifted over.First came a "creak... creak..." sound, like the groaning of old wood under heavy pressure and friction, moving from far to near.Immediately after, a melodious, gentle, yet eerie male humming clearly rang in everyone's ears:" Yo hoho~! Yo... ho~ ho~ ho~~!"" Hey! W-what is this sound? Where is it coming from? "Usopp was so scared he immediately covered his ears, looking around in a breakdown, trying to find the source of the sound." Yo! Ho~ ho~ ho..."The singing continued, echoing in the thick fog, adding to the eeriness.A giant drop of cold sweat slid down Nami's temple. While vigilantly looking around, she retreated unconsciously until her back bumped into Robin, who also had a grave expression." Creak—!!!"An extremely harsh, violent sound of wood scraping suddenly came from outside the starboard side of the thousand sunny!Everyone turned their heads instantly, their gazes locked onto the depths of the fog where the sound came from." Yo hohoho~!"Accompanied by the singing that rang out again, the outline of a ship,like a silhouette emerging from the depths of a nightmare, slowly pierced through the gray-white wall of fog.It was huge and dilapidated, its masts broken, its sails tattered like the tentacles of a dying sea monster.The ship's hull was covered in dark mold spots and rust marks, the wood decayed, windows broken, showing no signs of life.It passed by the thousand sunny silently, in an eerie posture that was almost like floating, slowly moving forward.Such an absurd scene, which only existed in horror legends, had actually appeared alive before their eyes.The "culprits" who were just excitedly scaring Usopp were now collectively speechless.Everyone looked up in unison, mouths agape, eyes wide, all color drained from their faces, leaving only boundless terror.After a moment of dead silence, the screams that broke through their throats merged into a torrent:" I-i-it r-really is a g-ghost s-ship—!!!"Although Mark knew the plot, witnessing this dilapidated ship, exuding thick ominousness and the dust of ages, silently emerge from the mist, the immersive weirdness and visual impact still made his scalp tingle slightly." Absurd, truly absurd..."He muttered softly, feeling the chill permeating the air around him." Yo! Ho~ ho~ ho!binks sake~ I shall deliver it to him..."On the ghost ship, the melodious humming continued, and one could even hear a few lyrics clearly." W-what song is this? "Nami, with a tearful voice, cupped her face in disbelief.The slow melody combined with the eerie scene before them created a sense of extreme horror." It's the ghost's soul-snatching melody!! D-don't listen! If you listen, your soul will be snatched away!"Usopp, no longer caring about his image, used all his strength to cover his ears and shouted at Chopper." You'll be cursed! Chopper! Remember! If a ghost speaks to you, do not answer!"," Once you answer, you will be dragged into the cold seabed and will never be able to come back up!"Usopp's face was covered in snot and tears." No—!!! I'm not listening, I'm not listening!"Chopper simply pulled its beloved pink hat down hard, almost covering its entire head, and crouched on the deck, shivering." The ghost... the ghost is using its singing to guide the souls of the dead on their way!"Usopp added desperately, despite being scared to death himself, he didn't forget to "warn" his companions." Who on earth... is on that ship? "Robin forcibly suppressed the chill in her heart, squinting her eyes, trying to see the situation on the deck of the ghost ship, but there seemed to be only deeper shadows there." Clang!" A crisp metallic sound.Zoro pushed his thumb, and the wado ichimonji at his waist unsheathed an inch, the bright blade reflecting the dim daylight.There was not a trace of fear on his face; instead, he curled his lips into a nearly cruel smile:" Hmph! Whether it's a ghost or whatever, as long as it's an enemy... I'll cut it down!"" There is something 'on' the ship... look carefully!"Sanji had long forgotten to smoke the cigarette in his mouth. He furrowed his brows, his fingers still holding the cigarette, his gaze locked on the slowly gliding ghost ship.As this huge ghost ship slowly glided to a position parallel to the midsection of the thousand sunny, the scene above the ship's railing was finally clearly exposed to the sight of the Straw Hat crew." Ah... ah... ah!!!"Luffy was the first to react. He reached out, pointing tremblingly at the figure on the ship's railing, too shocked to even speak a complete sentence.Chopper's trembling little hoof carefully and extremely slowly lifted a corner of the hat covering its face.When it saw the true face of the upright black shadow on the railing, its small body jolted, then completely stiffened.Only its big, round eyes were filled with the shock of having its "worldview shattered."What met their eyes was not a green-faced, fanged demon, but a... skeleton wearing a rather elegant black tuxedo and a blue bow tie.It not only had a mass of fluffy, dense black curly hair that was completely out of place on a skeletal skull,but was even elegantly holding a pure white coffee cup, with what seemed to be faint steam drifting from the rim.That melodious, gentle, bluesy singing was coming from its mouth, which had no flesh, only stark white bone."... Yo hohoho~ ♪ "Until the ghost ship passed the bow of the thousand sunny and slowly merged back into the thick fog ahead, the entire Straw Hat crew remained in that state of extreme astonishment:mouths half-open, pupils contracted, cold sweat flowing down from their temples like a waterfall, their throats only capable of making meaningless, as if choked," Ah... ah..." sounds. Time and thought seemed to have frozen at that moment." Eeh—!!!"The first to break this eerie silence was always Luffy.The shock on his face receded like a tide, replaced by a kind of indescribable ecstasy and excitement, as if he had discovered a new continent,the light in his eyes could almost pierce through the thick fog." Just now! Did you see it? You all saw it, right!"Luffy gestured wildly," A skeleton! A skeleton that can sing, drink coffee, and wears a suit!"," Alive! No, dead? Also not right... anyway, it's a skeleton that can move!"" Eeh! I-idiot! How can a skeleton sing and drink coffee!"," Skeletons don't have a digestive system... anyway, it's auditory hallucination! We're all having collective auditory hallucinations!"Usopp put his hands on his hips, trying hard to make a refuting posture, but his pale face and trembling voice betrayed him.Immediately, he hugged his head again and shook it frantically," It's the fog! The fog is the problem! It made us have a shared hallucination! That's right, that's it!"" Ah! So it was a hallucination!" Chopper tightly closed its eyes, hooves pressed together,with an expression of serene "I have reached enlightenment,"" Mark!"Luffy ignored those two self-hypnotizing guys, turned around, grabbed Mark's shoulders, and shook him hard, the excitement on his face almost overflowing." You heard it too, right? You saw it too, right?"" Hiss..."Mark was dizzy from being shaken. He took several deep breaths before barely calming down from the absurd shock of seeing a "living skeleton" with his own eyes." F-first, let me catch my breath... this impact is a bit big."Although he knew it was Brook, the sensory stimulation of 2D animation and 3D reality was completely on a different level.Luffy let go of Mark and bounced to between Sanjiand Zoro like an excited monkey,stretching out his arms to hook onto their shoulders on both sides, stars sparkling in his eyes:" Hey hey! You saw it too, right? Right, right?"," Let's go! Let's go quickly! Hurry up and catch up!"He clenched his fists to his chest, his whole body trembling slightly from excitement." A skeleton! And a living, singing skeleton at that! This is too interesting!"" Alright!" Luffy said and was about to bolt." Wait!"Sanji closed his eyes, veins popping on his temple. He accurately grabbed Luffy's back collar and dragged him back like a kitten, sighing helplessly," Let's discuss this!"After a quick, low-voiced discussion between Mark, Sanji, and Zoro, they decided to draw lots to choose two peopleto accompany Luffy and Mark, who were definitely going, to board the ghost ship for investigation.Mark had to go; whether it was to build a rainbow mist passage for quick return or to deal with potential emergencies, his ability was crucial.In this sea area with extremely low visibility and numerous legends, the thousand sunny had to be left with enough personnel to guard it.Zoro pulled out a handful of bamboo sticks of varying lengths, held them in his hand, revealing only the neat tops, and handed them to the pale-faced"Cowardly Trio"—Nami, Usopp, and Chopper." Come on, to be fair, draw lots to decide who will 'accompany' them."" Eeh—!!!"The three of them let out shrill screams."Why do we have to draw lots! Why can't whoever wants to go just go?"Usopp immediately jumped up and objected!"Yeah, yeah! I'm not going anyway! Let's just decide that!" Nami shook her head frantically.Chopper even jumped straight onto Zoro's head, wrapped his little hooves around his Marimo head, and took a big bite: "I'm definitely not drawing lots! That's that!""Are you guys really sure about this?" Zoro kept his eyes closed, looking completely unconcerned."Huh?" The cowardly trio froze and looked in the direction Zoro was facing.They saw that on Ink Meteor's broad back, besides the three of them, Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Franky, Robin, and Merry were all already sitting steadily!Luffy was waving at them excitedly. "Alright! Everyone's here! Let's go!"Luffy used his rubber legs to squeeze Ink Meteor's flanks like he was riding a horse."Oh—! Super adventure! I can't wait anymore!" Franky extended his huge mechanical fist and shouted excitedly."Wa—wait! We were wrong! Lord Zoro! Please, let us draw lots!!"The three of them changed their expressions instantly, rushing over while crawling and crying, each grabbing one of Zoro's swords, and were dragged across the deck like three desperate caterpillars by the expressionless Zoro."I'll draw! I'm willing to draw lots! Don't leave us behind—!!""The ghost ship is so scary—!! But being separated is even scarier!!"In the end, after a "fair and just" drawing ceremony, the results were out."Wh—why does it have to be me—!!!" Nami knelt on the deck, teary-eyed, hands supporting her on the ground, as if she had lost all her strength."Ghosts and such... are really just too scary..." She was surrounded by a grey aura."Nami, hurry up! Ink Meteor is about to take off! The ship is going to get away!" Luffy urged impatiently on Ink Meteor's back, pouting."Co—coming..." Nami moved to Ink Meteor's side, limp and lifeless like a zombie.She took a deep breath, leaped lightly, and crouched on Ink Meteor's back, hugging her knees tightly and burying her face in them, revealing only a pair of eyes filled with fear and resignation."Ghosts and such... better not mess with me...""Actually, I could just go by myself!" Luffy was still trying to fight for the right to a "solo adventure.""No way!" Sanji refused firmly and poked Luffy's back with his finger. "Who knows what earth-shattering stupid thing you, a single-celled organism, would do? What if you accidentally trigger some ancient curse and it drags down the whole thousand sunny? Don't even think about it!""Alright! Attention passengers, the'Sky Train · Ink Meteor' is about to start, please sit tight and hold on!" Mark sat in the front and patted the smooth fur on Ink Meteor's neck.Ink Meteor let out a low and majestic roar, its muscles tensed, and with a sudden burst of strength, its massive body leaped lightly, stepping directly onto the air as if treading on invisible stairs, racing towards the thick fog where the ghost ship had disappeared."Ghosts and such... woo..." Nami buried her face deeper."It's okay, Miss Nami! Please rest assured, even if I have to risk my life, I will protect you!" Sanjiimmediately turned his head, hearts appearing in his eyes, instantly switching to knight mode."Nami, didn't you always say you were looking forward to finding a 'treasure ship' hidden at sea?" Luffy also turned his head, trying to comfort her in his own unique way."This doesn't look like a treasure ship at all! Idiot!" Nami lifted her head abruptly, revealing sharp teeth as she retorted, though her fear seemed to be diluted a bit by her anger. "You saw it just now, right! There was a moving skeleton on that ship! A skeleton! A pile of bones!""Hehe!" Luffy grinned, showing his bright white teeth. "Maybe... he's the guardian of the treasure!""Ho—how could there be such a fantasy thing..." Nami muttered, but undeniably, Luffy's words did stir up a bit of her instinctual curiosity as a treasure hunter.Ink Meteor's speed was extremely fast, and soon it caught up with the ghost ship drifting slowly in the fog.It landed lightly on the ghost ship's deck, which was covered in dust and broken wood, making almost no sound.Then, they came face-to-face with the owner—or rather, the sole inhabitant—of this ship.Brook, this skeleton musician, was blankly holding his coffee cup, looking at the lion that had descended from the sky onto his deck and the few uninvited guests on the lion's back.Both sides just stared at each other... well, he had no eye sockets, falling into a strange and awkward silence.The Straw Hat crew felt their scalps tingle from being "stared" at by him, and Nami couldn't help but let out a soft scream, unable to contain her fear!Meanwhile, at the rail of the thousand sunny, Usoppand Chopper were kneeling devoutly, hands pressed together, eyes closed, praying towards the direction of the ghost ship: "Rest in peace, Luffy, Nami, Sanji... Mark... We will always remember you..."The silent standoff on the ghost ship's deck lasted for several seconds, and Brook's empty skull seemed to have only just processed this sudden information. He tilted his head slightly."Huh?""Huh?" Luffy also tilted his head, imitating him.Brook raised the bony hand holding the coffee cup and used his finger bones to gently tap his temple, making a crisp "tap tap" sound, as if confirming whether he was hallucinating."Oh my!" Brook seemed to have finally rebooted from a long standby state. His movements suddenly became fluid, and he slightly raised the black top hat on his head, bowing elegantly to everyone."Greetings, everyone! Yohohoho~!""How rude of me, I didn't greet you the moment we met!"Brook put on his hat and skillfully hung his cane on his left wrist, his movements natural and gentlemanly."You really gave me a big scare. I don't know how many years... oh no, it's been decades since I've seen living humans!""You don't know, this sea area always has scary ghost ships appearing, it really scared me to death! Even though I'm already dead, yohohoho~!"He kept talking to himself, then as if remembering hospitality, he quickly turned sideways and made a "please" gesture towards the cabin, even though the door was crooked and it was pitch black inside, looking more like a monster's gaping maw."Oh my, look at me, I was just talking! Please come in, let's have a good chat!" His enthusiastic invitation stood in stark contrast to the dilapidated environment before them."Look! The afro skeleton is talking! He's actually talking!" Luffy's shock had now completely transformed into intense interest, and he pointed at Brook, shouting excitedly. As for what Brook said, he probably hadn't listened carefully at all; the point was that the skeleton was talking!"Truly... unbelievable." Sanji had his cigarette in his mouth, his gaze still somewhat dazed; this was beyond his common sense understanding as a chef."Huh?" Brook's attention was drawn by the huge creature beside Luffy. He looked at the quietly crouching Ink Meteor, and his empty eye sockets seemed to "widen" a bit."Ah! A lion! Why is there such a big lion! So scary!" Brook exaggeratedly struck a defensive pose, almost spilling the coffee cup in his hand again.Ink Meteor rolled its huge eyes and let out a disdainful rumble in its throat. Mark couldn't help but cover his forehead and chuckle."Do you have any meat that a lion would care about?" he teased."Huh?" Brook paused, then reacted, seeming a bit embarrassed."Guest! Although what you said is an irrefutable fact, saying it so bluntly is too embarrassing for me, a skeleton! Yohohoho~!""Hahaha, sorry, sorry!" Mark waved at him, finding this skeleton unexpectedly interesting."Oh my!" Brook's gaze finally "landed" on Nami, who was hiding at the very back. He seemed to have discovered some rare treasure and immediately took two steps towards Nami with an elegant gait."This... this is truly!" he exclaimed, his bony hand on his chest, "What a beautiful and moving young lady! Beautiful!""No, no, not at all..." Nami was caught off guard by this sudden "compliment" from a skeleton, her fear mixed with a hint of strange embarrassment."Whenever I see a beautiful lady, I tend to be head over heels, although I have neither'spirit' nor'soul,' not even eyeballs! Yohohoho~!"Brook put down his cane and coffee cup, carefully adjusted his blue bow tie, took out a snow-white handkerchief, knelt down, and earnestly wiped his black leather shoes, which looked well-maintained, until they shone slightly.Then, he walked solemnly to Nami, stood at attention, his spine straight, his jaw slightly tucked. This serious posture made Nami subconsciously nervous, and she held her breath. Brook paused, as if brewing the most sincere emotion.Then, he asked in an incomparably sincere, expectant tone, as if proposing: "My beautiful lady, would you allow me to see your panties?"The deck was instantly deathly silent."..."The next second."Who would show you, you perverted skeleton—!!!"Nami's accumulated fear, embarrassment, and indignation instantly transformed into explosive power, and she delivered a powerful flying kick that slammed hard into Brook's smooth skull!"Oh my, oh my! What an energetic kick!" Brook spun and flew out, drawing an arc in the air, then landed lightly with a "pat." He lay on the ground, touching the lump that was rapidly swelling on his head."It hurts to the bone... although I am a skeleton. Yohohoho~!""Shut up!" Nami retracted her leg and roared at him, her cheeks flushed red with anger."Hahaha! Interesting! Too interesting!" Luffy clutched his stomach, rolling on the deck with laughter.Sanji fell into deep philosophical thought: "Why... does a skeleton get a bump on its head when kicked? This is not scientific..."Mark had given up on pondering these details. He shook his head and began to look around at the structure of the ghost ship to see if there were any other "surprises" besides Brook, or if there were any parts worth salvaging."Hahaha, say!" Luffy finally stopped laughing, wiped away the tears of laughter, walked up to Brook, who had just sat up, bent down, and stared at his empty eye sockets like a curious baby.Luffy asked a crucial, philosophical question: "Do you... poop?""Hey—!!!" Sanji finally woke up from his "skeleton bump" contemplation. Hearing this question, countless veins instantly popped out on his forehead, and he turned his head and roared at Luffy, "You idiot! Is this the time to be thinking about that?! There are many more important and basic questions to ask!!""Click!" Brook suddenly, in a way that defied the laws of physics, went straight from a sitting position to a standing position, as if he had springs under his feet. He walked to the mast next to him, picked up his cane and coffee cup, then marched in a standard goose step, "click, click, click" back to directly in front of Luffy, stood at attention again, holding his cane with both hands in front of him, like a soldier about to answer a superior's question.His empty "gaze" "stared" at Luffy, and he answered with utmost seriousness: "I do poop.""..."The deck fell into silence once again, with only the movement of the fog and the soft sound of the sea. Sanji felt his sanity teetering on the edge of snapping. He pointed at Brook, his teeth chattering: "Hey—!!! Does that kind of question need to take so long and require such a formal, grand ceremony to answer?""Enough! None of that matters!" Sanji forcibly suppressed the urge to retort, rubbed his aching temples, put on a serious expression again, and pointed at Brook."First of all, you! How can you still move, talk, and think when you're clearly a skeleton? What exactly are you? Are you a Devil Fruit user? Or some kind of curse? What happened to this ship? What secret is hidden in this Devil's Triangle? Why are you here? Answer me honestly...""Wait!" Luffy suddenly interrupted Sanji's barrage of questions. He crossed his arms, walked two steps in front of Brook, the smile on his face disappeared, replaced by a rare, core-reaching seriousness.Sanji and Nami were both stunned, looking at Luffy's back. Luffy stood with his hands on his hips, his body leaning slightly forward, his eyes shining with a pure and passionate light that dispelled the surrounding fog and gloom. He looked at Brook and asked in a clear, direct, and expectant tone: "Hey! Be my crewmate!""Eh!!!" Sanji and Nami's eyes widened sharply, looking at Luffy's back in disbelief. This leap of logic was way too fast, wasn't it?! Jumping straight from asking if he poops to inviting him to join the crew?Brook: "Hmm, sure." Without hesitation, without doubt. Brook gave an affirmative answer immediately."Eh!!!!!!" The cigarette in Sanji's mouth fell onto the decaying deck with a "pat." Nami pressed her hands hard against her cheeks, her eyes wide, letting out a silent scream, her face filled with the shock of "What is wrong with this world?""Hey—!!!" The two roared in unison at Brook and Luffy, their voices earth-shattering.Brook, however, seemed completely oblivious to the shock and urge to retort that had almost materialized. He calmly picked up his coffee cup and took a sip. Luffy looked at Brook, grinned, and revealed an incomparably brilliant smile. "Hehe!"